Exxon spuds Pluma, offshore Guyana

The third drillship contracted by Exxon in Guyana, the Noble Tom Madden has spud Pluma. This represents the 12th well drilled in Guyana by Exxon. Thus far, the company has been successful in nine of those wells.

According to Noble, the Tom Madden is contracted to work in Guyana to late December. The Tom Madden essentially replaces the Stena Carron while it heads off to the Canary Islands for recertification. The vessel was previously at work in the Gulf of Mexico, also contracted by Exxon (Esso).

This drillship has been contacted to perform work in the southern part of the Stabroek Block.

Pluma is located approximately 26 miles south from Turbot. It is located close to the Suriname maritime border.

If Pluma is successful, it would be an important addition for Exxon and its partners. During an investor call, John Hess said that, if Pluma is a discovery, ‘I think it would be part of what we are calling the Greater Turbot Complex’, according to Upstream. In addition, he added that the partners are already considering at least five floating production, storage and offloading units for the block, which currently has estimated recoverable resources of more than four billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The Hess chief executive said there will be more appraisal on the block around Hammerhead — the most recent discovery, which opened a new play type — more exploration and appraisal wells around Turbot, and appraisal drilling around Ran.